The age of mass education has reshaped the world, helping to raise billions of people out of poverty. And, if education is ever going to reach all of the world’s children, the assumption is that it will be through mass education.

“This type of education will smother human genius. Nothing new and wonderful will happen,” he said. “We are only teaching our children to exploit everything.”

The spiritual leader explained that today’s education systems are too standardized and fail to achieve a number of fundamental goals.

Writing is one of the most complex actions any of us must learn. Many children face early challenges and it can be a long, slow process. So, what if rather than using technology to help children learn, you flip and teach the technology to write?

That’s what this AI enabled robot Co-Writer aims to do.

The ‘protégé effect’ shows that we can learn more by preparing others – and also understand our own mistakes.

The theme of the Forum this year is “How do we create ‘real’ global citizens?”. However, not everyone believes that this is a priority. In 2016, British Prime Minister Theresa May stated that “…if you believe you are a citizen of the world, then you are a citizen of nowhere. You don’t understand what the word ‘citizenship’ means.”

This statement suggests that, while well meaning, global citizenship education fails to highlight the primacy of duty to one’s nation states and fails to practically prepare young people to participate in the local and national institutions that have the greatest impact on the day-to-day lives of the vast majority of people on the planet.

Policy pitches work by asking selected attendees to prepare a short, focused presentation to a panel of Ministers as to an education idea they would like to see taken up by governments.

There is no constraint on the type or ambition of idea that can be suggested, but the focus should be on something that governments could, if they wanted, take forward. Earlier today Wendy Kopp and Scott Weber gave their policy pitches to the Ministers.

In an age of “alternative facts” and endless amounts of information available at the touch of a button , many of today’s students are operating with what E.D. Hirsch calls a “knowledge deficit”.

Addressing this deficit requires a renewed focus on a very simple strategy: teach facts to build upon facts the House argues. As students expands their base of knowledge, they are better prepared to move onto more challenging concepts and subject matter.

By outlining the precise content mastery that each student should learn in all subjects – from mathematics to language arts – education systems create the infrastructure that enables each young person to develop both a breadth and depth of knowledge.

Arne Duncan was the United States Secretary of Education from 2009 through December 2015. Michael Gove was UK Secretary of State for Education from 2010 to 2014. As such both had a ringside seat to some of the developments across global education over the last ten years.

Tomorrow the Global Education and Skills Forum host the Global Teacher Prize. Earlier today we met the Top 10 finalists in a Meet the Mentor session. Find out more about our finalists here.

14:16 | Free speech at universities is more important than political correctness

Current debate: is free speech in universities more important than political correctness? Long considered a beacon for free expression, universities are increasingly serving as a central battleground in the conflict between political correctness and free speech.

In the second of today’s Meet the Mentor sessions Julia Gillard, the former Prime Minister of Australia, discusses education and global citizenship.

Discussing education technology Ms Gillard said that for it to make a real impact in areas needing humanitarian aid it needs a reliable electricity sources and skilled training. She went on to state: “The first instance tech will make a difference will not be putting a smartphones in a child’s hand but a tablet in the hand of teachers,especially those in rural and remote areas ”

The former Prime Minister noted that developments in Education require patience: “We need to invest in patience… Education is patient investment in a rather impatient world”

13:37 | Education reform in the UK, 2010-2015

Over the last seven years, the British government has conducted a series of reforms to the education system in the UK. What worked, what didn’t, and what does this mean for other countries?

The purpose of the reforms, and the extent to which it is leading to increased outcomes for students, particularly the poorest, is still a heated debate in the country.

Major changes were made to the way in which teachers were recruited, trained, and paid. As well as changes to the way in which funding is allocated to schools.

Reform of the governance structure of schools’, the ability of parents and communities to set up new schools, and changes in the content of the curriculum at all ages were also undertaken.

In the session UK Schools Minister, Nick Gibb, stated that the reforms have given teachers far more control over the destiny of their school, and that the most compelling evidence for providing schools with more freedom is through visiting new academy schools across the country.

13:07 | The primary purpose of education is to help young people get jobs – agree or disagree?

The second of our debates for today. Is education for getting jobs or does it have another purpose? Take our poll and tune into thelive streamnow.

Harry Patrinos of the World Bank addressed a panel of Ministers about childhood illiteracy in the first of the Policy Pitches for the weekend. Mr Patrinos discussed his plan to end childhood illiteracy.

Journalist, author, and three time Pulitzer Prize winner Thomas Friedman is currently being interviewed by Justin Cooper. Mr Friedman is highly regarded for his extensive travel, exhaustive reporting, and insightful interviewing.

Discussing his career Mr Friedman credits his journalism teacher who, he says, imparted really strong values and fundamentals. Journalism, Mr Friendman states, is “breaking down complex subjects” and sharing them with people.

On the future of education Mr Friedman stated: “If you’re not educating children for the jobs that don’t exist yet, then you’re not educating them at all”

11:40 | This House Would Ban Low-Cost Private Schools in the Developing World.

The first session in the debate chamber is about to start and is available to watch onlive stream. According to The Economist, the number of low-cost private schools in the developing world now exceeds one-million. But is this a good or bad thing?

The world of education is witnessing an increase in complexity as a result of the introduction of and the possibilities created by technological innovations like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and adaptive learning. How do these innovations affect the various stakeholders within the education landscape?

Education’s White Elephant: A Briefing On Technology in the Classroom will be Presented by UCL Institute of Education.

The panel of global leaders, teachers, students, will discuss the power of systems, stories, students and solutions that enable young people to continue to learn and thrive in challenging environments.

Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO will share an overview of the current global situation regarding education and emergencies, and the urgency of maintaining education systems in times of conflict and natural disasters.

The purpose of education is an important question. Sadhguru spoke at the Opening Plenary at GESF and asked whether traditional education has been beneficial for humanity as a whole. The guru stated that education in the past has caused divisions on ethnic, class and national lines:

Dubai Cares runs a wide range of programmes in the Middle East and Africa working with local NGOs to help create global citizens. The aim is to bring together a community of global citizens and leaders to resolve world issues.

On the importance of education in creating true global citizens H.E. Dr Al Gurg stated: “Education provides children with passport to this new world.”

10:01 | The future of education?

Mr Andreas Schleicher, Director for the Directorate of Education and Skills, OECD, discusses the future of education during the Opening Plenary at GESF 2017.

Mr Schleicher emphasised the need to to educate children for an increasingly digital world, stating: “Those without the right skills are increasingly left behind.”

Vikas Pota, Chief Executive of the Varkey Foundation welcomed delegates to the 5th annual GESF. Mr Pota revealed that at this year’s Forum there are over 2000 delegates in attendance and nearly 250 media delegates who will be covering the conference this year.

The world of education is witnessing an increase in complexity as a result of the introduction of and the possibilities created by technological innovations like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data, and adaptive learning.

How do these innovations affect the various stakeholders within the education landscape? Education’s White Elephant: A Briefing On Technology in the Classroom will be Presented by UCL Institute of Education at 11:00 today.

The theme for the Art Experience at the Forum is Alice in Wonderland – A journey through logic and making sense of the senseless. Delegates can experience contemporary teaching and learning by the swimming pool. As well as engage with literature and the arts sessions.

07:57 | Later Today

Harry Patrinos of the World Bank and Miniya Chatterji of Jindal Steel and Power, will be addressing a panel of Ministers about childhood illiteracy. The topic for the 11.30 Policy Pitch is: Improving Early Reading: The Not-so-secret Weapon in Addressing the Skills Gap.

For the first time the Global Education and Skills forum will be broadcasting sessions live online. You can now view the live stream by visiting ourhomepage.

07:30 | In one hour

The Global Education and Skills Forum 2017 will begin with a Welcoming Address from the Varkey Foundation’s founder Sunny Varkey.

07:25 | Coming up today

According to The Economist, the number of low-cost private schools in the developing world now exceeds one-million. But is this a good or bad thing? In the Debate Chamber later today: This House Would Ban Low-Cost Private Schools in the Developing World. Get informed on ourblog herebefore joining the debate.

07:18 | Watch the Forum LIVE

Want to know the latest insights from educations best thinkers? Many of the sessions at GESF this year will be live to watch online. All sessions that are streamed live will also be available to play back later.

07:10 | Join the conversation

You can join the conversation for this year’s event by following @GESForum on Twitter or the hashtag#GESF.

As registration begins for Day 1 of GESF 2017 take a look back at the highlight’s from 2016.

07:03 | The theme for 2017

This year delegates will be looking to answer the question: “How do we create ‘real’ global citizens?” Find out more about the role of teachers in creating global citizenshere.

07:00 | Welcome to Day 1 of GESF 2017

Welcome to the first day of the Global Education & Skills Forum 2017. Our live blog will keep you up-to-date on all of the key developments from the Forum. Or follow@GESForum on Twitter or the hashtag#GESF for more live updates.

The Global Education and Skills Forum is taking place on 18th and 19th March 2017 in Dubai, UAE, with the theme of “How do we make ‘real’ global citizens?”